My kids started wanting MP3 Players a few years ago. They were a mystery to me at first. As near as I could tell they were just the next generation of music players - tapes, CD, MP3, right?

I am gradually coming to learn more about MP3, ipods, and the myriad of content that can be downloaded free from the internet. Of course, as a homeschooler, I am always looking to see how these broadcasts can benefit our homeschool. This wekend I am looking into educational podcasting. Basically, people make audio (and video too) files that they share on the net through their blogs. These can be downloaded to listen to on computers, portable MP3 players, or other cousin devices such as iPods, even the new breed of cell phones can be used to listen to podcasting files. Most of these are audio files, but as bandwidth and free file servers open up more opportunities there are increasing numbers of video podcasts.

If you don't want to dig around for blogs that have regular educational podcasters, you can go to podcast directories. A good one is Learn Out Loud at http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory. The podcast section is entirely free. You will find lectures, audio books, interviews, sermons, radio addresses, etc. Take a look.

Here are a few interesting ones that I have come across at Learn Out Loud:

Crackleback Short Stories Podcast

Classic short stories from such noteables as Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, H.G. Wells, are currently listed in this podcats series. Look toward the bottom of the page to get the links to the individual stories.

Classic Books Alive

Has podcasts of Tom Sawyer broken up by chapter

Various Spanish Language Podcasts

All three of the podcast series here look interesting. One is a videocast on how to roll your r's.

There are many NOVA and PBS podcasts listed in their science section as well as many college lecture series in such subjects as anatomy, archaeology, astronomy, and more.

Teaching governemnet right now? Under the politics heading you can listen to the Presidential Weekly Radio Adresses, search for podcasts categorized by political orientation, or by contemporary issues.

Want to learn about the Byzantine Rulers? THis is just one of several history podcasts available.

Want to go digging around the net for more? Just do a websearch with audio specified as the type of search to be done.

Once you start enjoying these podcasts, you may even find you and your kids getting interested in making a few of your own to offer. Pretty much all the tools you will need are completely free. Just get a decent microphone for your computer; use your own or download the free audio program Audacity; make your program; upload to one of the many free, public file servers; and post a link to it on your blog. Make good ones regularly and you may want to set up the RSS feed on your blog so others can subscribe to what you produce to get automatic downloads for their convenience.

Well, I hope I have whet your appetite to look around at what is available in the internet and at Learn Out Loud that you can have your kids listen (or watch) on their computer or on their portable players.